The Duchess of Edinburgh has slammed soldiers who use rape as a weapon of war after visiting the site of a horrific massacre carried out by Vladimir Putin’s troops in Ukraine.
Sophie, 59, denounced the use of sexual violence to ‘demean, degrade and destroy’ women and girls as she met survivors of the Russian invasion on Monday.
The mother-of-two said she was grateful for the ‘honesty’ and ‘openness’ displayed by women she spoke to during an emotional one-day trip to Kyiv and the surrounding areas.
During her visit she paid her respects to those murdered by Kremlin forces, and in particular the more than 450 people who were brutally killed in the town of Bucha, just outside the Ukrainian capital.
The Duchess, who visited in her role as champion of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda, said ‘women and girls pay the highest price’ in war.
On her visit to Bucha, where Russian forces reportedly ran riot during a cruel month-long occupation in which their were summary executions of residents and reported rapes of girls as young as 14, Sophie appeared overcome with emotion.
It is understood the Duchess, who is the first member of the Royal Family to visit Ukraine since Putin’s illegal war began, was ‘keen to show her solidarity with men, women and children affected by the Russian invasion’.
Sophie, the Duchess of Cambridge, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday
Sophie paid her respects to the victims of the Russian invasion during a visit to the town of Bucha, which was the site of atrocities committed by Putin’s troops
The Duchess visited a memorial to the victims of the Russian occupation in the town alongside British Ambassador Martin Harris
Sophie looks on at a poster of a person with their hands bound by rope at the memorial in Bucha
She also lit a candle at Saint Andrew’s Church in Bucha in memory of those who lost their lives during the brutal occupation
The Duchess was guided around Saint Andrew’s Church in Bucha and the town by a local Orthodox priest
The Duchess also spoke to women affected by the war during a visit to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) office in Kyiv
The Duchess gave a speech during a reception at the residence of the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ukraine in Kyiv
As part of her journey to Bucha, she visited the ‘Road to Life’, a bridge which became a key part of the Ukrainian resistance when it was blown up to stop Russian troops proceeding to Kyiv and later became a vital route for people to flee to safety from the Russian occupation.
In Kyiv the Duchess listened as survivors of sexual violence, both male and female, bravely shared their stories, as well as talking to female IDPs – internally displaced persons – and volunteers who help their communities cope with the trauma of the invasion.
She also met with children who have now been safely returned to Ukraine, after being forcibly separated from their families and deported by Russia as part of a sustained campaign to erase Ukrainian culture.
It is understood she was particularly keen to show her support for Ukrainian women who have played important roles in the conflict and community recovery and held a meeting with female volunteers who help their communities cope with the aftermath of the attacks with mental health care activities for children.
Speaking at an evening reception at the residence of the UK ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, Sophie said she had travelled to many countries in conflict or post-conflict, and ‘women and girls pay the highest price in terms of human costs’.
She said: ‘Rape is used to demean, to degrade and to destroy. And we have to get better at trying to prevent that from happening. Where we cannot prevent it from happening, what we must do is put measures in place to support those who have fallen victim to such crimes.’
The Duchess said she has met survivors of sexual violence and thanked them for their ‘openness’.
She said: ‘I thank them for that honesty in telling me what happened to them.
‘Their stories are sad. I hear many stories like this, sadly, from around the world. But I appreciate their time and their openness.’
The Duchess was also shown the Romanivska Bridge in Irpin, which became a key part of the Ukrainian resistance when it was blown up to stop Russian troops proceeding to Kyiv
She also visited the Car Cemetery in the town of Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv, which was the site of a fierce battle during the early stages of the Russian invasion
The Duchess of Edinburgh (right) poses for a photo with Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska (left) in Saint Sophia Cathedral in what was the first visit to the country by a member of the Royal Family since the Russian invasion
During her visit Sophie also met with survivors of sexual violence, both male and female, who bravely shared their stories
She also visited the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) where she met victims of the Russian invasion
The Duchess was seen stroking a dog during her visit to the UNFPA office in Kyiv on Monday
Sophie poses for a picture with people at the UNPFPA office, with the Duchess ‘keen to show her solidarity with men, women and children affected by the Russian invasion’
In Kyiv the Duchess spoke to staff at the UNFPA and learned of how they are working to help victims of the Russian invasion
Sophie speaks to people at the UNFPA office in Kyiv. The Duchess also talked to female IDPs – internally displaced persons – and volunteers who help their communities cope with the trauma of the invasion
The Duchess added that she had met people who ‘played a large role in Bucha and Irpin’ to help their communities, and she will ‘take those stories home in my heart’.
She added that she had met ‘so many wonderful Ukrainians’ in the United Kingdom since the start of the war.
Sophie said: ‘But of course, what is true is that the hearts of every Ukrainian that I’ve met in the United Kingdom, their hearts remain here. They would like to return home one day, and God willing, that will happen.’
During a video address at a conference on conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine last month, the Duchess said: ‘Survivors here and around the world have spoken out so bravely about their experiences.
‘They are the most powerful advocates who remind us all that we must not turn our backs on the horrors of this crime, we must never forget survivors.
‘Rather, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress, and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict.
‘Their rights and their voices must be at the heart of all our efforts to consign conflict-related sexual violence to the history books.’
Sophie announced her commitment to champion the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) and the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) on International Women’s Day in 2019.
She has visited a number of countries over the years to highlight the impact of historical and ongoing conflict, including Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia.
Meeting with President Zelensky and First Lady Zelenska, Sophie discussed how best to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and the women peacebuilders who have a vital part to play in ensuring Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction is effective and long-lasting.
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was seen smiling as she looked up at the ceiling of Saint Sophia Cathedral alongside Olena Zelenska
The Duchess was shown frescoes as she was given a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Monday
Her visit came the same day at least four people were killed in a Russian missile barrage in the port city of Odesa. Pictured: A couple look towards the burning Odesa Law Academy after the attack today
The governor of the Ukrainian port city confirmed multiple people had been killed or wounded in the blitz on Monday
Sophie also signed the guest book at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv during her whirlwind visit to the city on Monday
The Duchess also met with children as she visited a family centre run by Save Ukraine in the town of Irpin
The Duchess met children who had been returned to Ukraine after being forcibly separated from their families during the invasion
Sophie was greeted by children who had drawn welcoming messages for her on a flag of Ukraine
The Duchess is all smiles as she speaks to a young child at the Save Ukraine family centre in Irpin
She also passed on a personal message from King Charles – as she showed her solitary with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture during her emotional one-day trip.
Speaking at a conference last month, Her Royal Highness said: ‘Survivors here and around the world have spoken out so bravely about their experiences.
‘They are the most powerful advocates who remind us all that we must not turn our backs on the horrors of this crime, we must never forget survivors.
‘Rather, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with all survivors to secure justice and holistic redress, and ensure that this crime isn’t an accepted part of conflict.
‘Their rights and their voices must be at the heart of all our efforts to consign conflict-related sexual violence to the history books.’
Since 2022, the UK has pledged over £4.7 billion in non-military support to Ukraine.
This includes over £660 million of bilateral assistance that prioritises the needs of women and girls, for example by funding vital services for survivors of Gender Based Violence, as well as working with the Office of the Prosecutor General to put survivors at the centre of approaches to prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence crimes.
The Duchess looks at a historical model of Kyiv located in Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv during Monday’s visit
Sophie was seen to be enraptured by the ornate decoration in the 6th-century monument, which is known as one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, looks down at a sword on display in the Saint Sophia Cathedral
The Duchess looks at the ornate decorations of the cathedral, which is named after the 6th century Hagia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul
A guide shows Sophie a model of the Saint Sophia Cathedral during a tour of the religious complex
The Duchess (left) visited Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv today alongside First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska (right)
Sophie walks in the shadows of Saint Sophia Cathedral during a visit to Kyiv on Monday in her role as champion of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the Women, Peace and Security agenda
Sophie looks at the grave of Yaroslav I the Wise, the founder of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv
The UK is also working with international partners to hold those responsible for atrocities to account.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh is visiting Ukraine at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to demonstrate solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war and in a continuation of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
‘Her Royal Highness this morning met the President and First Lady of Ukraine and delivered a message to them on behalf of His Majesty The King.’
The timing of her visit to Ukraine coincided with a Russian barrage that killed at least four people in the port city of Odesa, nearly 300 miles to the south.
A turreted Gothic-style building owned by the Odesa Law Academy, known locally as the ‘Harry Potter Castle,’ was seen in flames after the strike on the crucial port city.
Its regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging site that 27 people were injured in a Russian missile strike on residential buildings and ‘civil infrastructure’.
He said: ‘Three women and a man were killed. According to the updated toll, 27 people were wounded, including two children… and a pregnant woman.
‘Four of the wounded are in a serious condition, doctors are fighting to save their lives.’
Smoke billows into the air as fire tears through the Odesa Law Academy after the building was hit by a Russian missile on Monday
People gather to watch as the Odesa Law Academy building in southern Ukraine burns following a Russian attack
A turreted Gothic-style building in Odesa is left smouldering after being hit by a Russian missile on Monday
Members of the Red Cross work with Ukrainian firefighters outside the burning Odesa Law Academy
President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Kyiv on Monday
Stoltenberg admitted that aid promised by NATO to Ukraine had not been delivered quickly enough
At a press conference back in Kyiv on Monday, the head of NATO said the military alliance hasn’t delivered the aid promised to Ukraine in time as he stood alongside President Zelensky.
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg admitted that ‘serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield’, allowing Russia to press its advantage while Kyiv’s depleted forces wait for military supplies.
Outgunned, Ukraine’s troops have struggled to fend off Russian advances on the battlefield.
They were recently compelled to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the east, where the Kremlin’s forces have been making incremental gains, Ukraine’s army chief said Sunday.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed Monday its forces had also taken the village of Semenivka.
‘The lack of ammunition has allowed the Russians to push forward along the front line.
‘Lack of air defence has made it possible for more Russian missiles to hit their targets, and the lack of deep strike capabilities has made it possible for the Russians to concentrate more forces,’ Stoltenberg said.
Kyiv’s Western partners have repeatedly vowed to stand with Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes.’
But vital US military help was held up for six months by political differences in Washington, and Europe’s military hardware production has not kept up with demand.
Ukraine’s own manufacturing of heavy weapons is only now starting to gain traction.
Now, Ukraine and its Western partners are racing to deploy critical new military aid that can help check the slow and costly but steady Russian advance across eastern areas, as well as thwart drone and missile attacks.
Zelensky said new Western supplies have started arriving, but slowly. ‘This process must be speeded up,’ he said at the news conference with Stoltenberg.